Stackable rotary valves

ABSTRACT

A SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A PLURALITY OF ACTUATORS OPERABLE FROM A SOURCE OF PRESSURIZED FLUID COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF ROTARY VALVES, ONE VALVE FOR EACH ACTUATOR, DESIGNED TO BE STACKED TOGETHER IN A COMPACT UNIT OR ARRANGEMENT. EACH VALVE COMPRISES A BODY HAVING A CAVITY IN WHICH A ROTARY CYLINDRICAL VALVE MEMBER IS LOCATED. THE VALVE MEMBER HAS TWO ANNULAR GROOVES THEREIN, ONE OF WHICH IS A FLUID SUPPLY CHAMBER. AND HE OTHER OF WHICH IS A FLUID RETURN CHAMBER. EACH CHAMBER IS ALTERNATIVELY CONNECTABLE THROUGH PASSAGES IN THE VALVE MEMBER TO EITHER OF TWO ACTUATOR PORTS IN THE VALVE BODY. THE ACTUATOR PORTS ARE CONNECTED TO AN ACTUATOR. THE SUPPLY   CHAMBER AND RETURN CHAMBER ARE ALSO IN COMMUNICATION WITH SUPPLY PORETS AND RETURN PORTS, RESPECTIVELY, PROVIDED IN THE VALVE BODY. WHEN A PLURALITY OF VALVES ARE STACKED AND SECURED TOGETHER, THE SUPPLY PORTS AND RETURN PORTS OF ONE VALVE BODY COMMUNICATE WITH THOSE OF ANY ADJACENT VALVE BODY. THUS, IT IS ONLY NECESSARY TO CONNECT THE SUPPLY PORT AND RETURN PORT OF ONE VALVE BODY TO THE FLUID SOURCE FLUID RESERVOIR, RESPECTIVELY, TO EFFECT FLUID SUPPLY AND RETURN FOR ALL VALVES IN THE STACK, REGARDLESS OF THEIR NUMBER.

Sept. 20, 1971 M. L. WoRRlx STACKABLE ROTARY VALVES med oct. 24, 1969United States Patent O 3,605,805 STACKABLE ROTARY VALVES Matthew L.Worrix, Sheridan, Oreg., assignor to Allis- Chalmers ManufacturingCompany, Milwaukee, Wis. Filed Oct. 24, 1969, Ser. N0. 869,037 Int. Cl.F16k 11/10 U.S. Cl. 137-596.12 2 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Asystem for controlling a plurality of actuators operable from a sourceof pressurized tluid comprises a plurality of rotary valves, one valvefor each actuator, designed to be stacked together in a compact unit orarrangement. Each valve comprises a body havinga cavity in which arotary cylindrical valve member is located. The valve member has twoannular grooves therein, one of which is a uid supply chamber and theother of which is a fluid return chamber. Each chamber is alternativelyconnectable through passages in the valve member to either of twoactuator ports in the valve body. The actuator ports are connected to anactuator. The supply chamber and return chamber are also incommunication with supply ports and return ports, respectively, providedin the valve body. When a plurality of valves are stacked and securedtogether, the supply ports and return ports of one valve bodycommunicate with those of any adjacent valve body. Thus, it is onlynecessary to connect the supply port and return port of one valve bodyto the uid source and uid reservoir, respectively, to effect fluidsupply and return for all valves in the stack, regardless of theirnumber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to rotaryvalves and particularly to those which can be stacked together into acompact unit.

Known types of conventional rotary valves for controlling actuatorstypically comprise a valve body having four separate passages therein,two for connection to a fluid supply and a return reservoir and two forconnection to a fluid responsive actuator. A rotatable valve member withtwo passages therein determines uid ow between the body passages andthereby controls the actuator. If a plurality of such conventionalvalves are required to control a plurality of actuators, each yvalvemust be connected to the actuator it controls and, either directly or bycomplicated interconnecting tubing, to the iluid supply source and fluidreservoir. This requires much space, complicated arrangements andduplication of tubing and other components.

VIn accordance with the present invention these and other drawbacks areovercome by providing an improved system comprising a plurality ofimproved rotary valves designed to be stacked together in a compactarrangement. Each valve comprises a body having a cavity in which arotary cylindrical valve member is located. The valve member has twoannular grooves therein, one of which is a iluid supply chamber and theother of which is a uid return chamber. Each chamber is alternativelyconnectable through passages in the valve member to either of twoactuator ports in the valve body. T-hese actuator ports are connected tothe actuator being controlled by the valve. The supply chamber andreturn chamber are also in communication with one or more supply portsand return ports, respectively. When a plurality of valves are stackedand secured together, the supply ports and return ports of one valvebody communicate with those of an adjacent valve body necessary toconnect the supply Patented Sept. 20, 1971 HCC port and return port ofonly one valve body to the iluid source and fluid reservoir,respectively, to effect uid supply and return for all valves in thestack, regardless of their number.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide improved rotary valves which can be stacked together in improvedcompact, uncomplicated and versatile systems or arrangements whenever aplurality of valves are required.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

DESCRIPTION OF THE `DRAWING The accompanying drawing illustrates apreferred embodiment of the invention but it is to be understood thatthe embodiment illustrated is susceptible of modifications with respectto details thereof without departing from the scope of the appendedclaims.

FIG. 1 shows a system employing a plurality of rotary Valves inaccordance with the present invention;

FlG. 2 is a top plan View with portions broken away of valves shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of one valve taken along line III-IIIof FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the valve shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. l, the numeral 10designates a stack comprising a plurality of rotary valves in accordancewith the invention. Nine valves, individually designated 12a through121' are arranged in a stack three valves high and three valves wide.Valve 12a is connected to an actuator `14 which it controls, ashereinafter explained, by tubes 16 and 18. It is to be understood thateach valve 12b through 121' is similarly connected to an actuator suchas actuator 14.

Actuator 14, for example, comprises a cylinder 28 having a piston 30which is understood to be axially movable in opposite directions inresponse to the ow of fluid into the cylinder from either tube 16 or 18,as the case may be.

Valve 121' is connected to a source or supply 32 of uid under pressureand to a fiuid return reservoir 34 by tubes 36 and 38, respectively. Ifpreferred, source 32 and reser- Voir 34 may be interconnected as bymeans 39.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show, among other things, the details of construction ofvalve 12h which, except as hereinafter explained, is identical to theother valves in stack 10. Valve 12h, for example, comprises a body 40Ahaving a cylindrical cavity 42 therein. A pair of rst and secondactuator ports 44 and `46 on the rear side of body 40 communicate withthe cavity through the rear wall 48 ofthe body and are adapted forconnection to the actuator controlled by valve 12h. A rotary valvemember '50 in the form of a cylinder is disposed in cavity 42 of body 40and is provided with a valve stem 52 which extends through a hole 54 ina cover plate 56 on the front side side of the body. Member 50 isprovided with two annular grooves 58 and 60 in the circumference thereofwhich cooperate with body 40 to serve as a uid supply chamber and a uidreturn chamber, respectively. Member 50 is further provided with twopassages 62 and 64 which extend between the chambers 58 and 60,respectively, and the end face of member 50. It is to be understood thatin one position of valve member 50 the passages 62 and 64 communicatewith the actuator ports 44 and 46, respectively. However, when valvemember 50 is rotated 180 to its other position, the passages 62 and 64are reversed and communcate with the actuator ports 46 and 44,respectively.

As FIG. 4 best shows, a clearance space 66 exists between the endsurface 68 of -Valve member 50 and the end wall 70 of cavity 42 toaccommodate fluid-tight washers or seals 72 and 74 which are provided inthe enlarged openings at the end of the passages l62 and 64,respectively, of valve member 50. The washers 72 and 74 are adapted toslide on the smooth end wall 70 of cavity 42. Resilient O- rings 76 and78 are provided behind the seals 72 and 74, respectively, to help biasthe seals and provide a fluidtight arrangement. Body 40 of valve 12h isprovided on its side 80 with a supply port 82 and a return port 84 whichcommunicate with uid supply chamber '58 and fluid return chamber 60,respectively, and is also provided on its opposite side 86 with rst andsecond connecting ports 88 and 90 which communicate with the chambers 58and 60, respectively.

As FIG. 2 shows, valve 12h is disposed between valves 12g and 121' whichare similar in construction to valve `1211, except as hereinafterexplained. The body of valve 12g is provided with supply and returnports 92 and 94, respectively, which register and communicate with theports 88 and 90, respectively, in valve 12h when valves 12g and 12h arestacked together as shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3. Similarly, the body ofvalve 121 is provided with rst and second connecting parts 96 and 98which register and communicate with ports 82 and l84, respectively, invalve 12h when val-ves 12h and tl2i are stacked together. The body ofvalve 121' is further provided with supply and return ports 104 and 106which communicate with source 32 and reservoir 34, respectively, shownin FIG. l.

It is to be understood that each valve in stack shown in FIG. 1 isprovided with such ports as are necessary to connect it to one or moreadjacent valves. Thus, only one rvalve in a stack needs to vbe connecteddirectly to the source and to the reservoir. Each other valve isindirectly connected thereto through at least one of its adjacentvalves. As FIGS. l and 2 show, the valves in stack 10 are securedtogether by suitable bolts 108 which engage flanges 110 or are disposedin notches 112 provided on or in the bodies of the valves. Preferably,resilient washers 114 are provided between the adjacent valve bodiesaround the communicating ports.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the sides of each valve bodyare flat so that the valves can be stacked compactly in a minimum amountof space. During manufacture of the valves, the supply and return portsand the connecting ports, all of which are to be located in the sides,tops or bottoms of the valve bodies, are provided simply by drillingholes after the stacking arrangement is decided upon for a particularinstallation.

The system shown in FIG. 1 operates as follows. Fluid from source 32 issupplied under pressure through tube 36 and port 104 to the fluid supplychamber of valve 112i and from these through port 96 and port i82 in avalve 12h to iluid supply chamber 58 in valve 12h. Fluid is supplied tothe supply chamber in all valves in stack 10 through associated supplyports in a similar manner.

With all supply chambers charged with pressurized fluid, each valve canbe operated independently (or in any combination) to effect operation ofits associated actuator.

For example, assume that valve 12h is charged and that its valve member50 is in a position where its passages 62 and 64 are out of registrywith the ports 44 and 46. In this positon, no lluid flows to theactuator.

Now assume that valve member 450 is rotated to a rst position, such asshown in FIG. 3, wherein passages 62 and 64 register with ports 44 and46, respectively. In this condition fluid ilows from supply chamber S8,through passage 62 and port 44 to one side of its associated actuatorcausing a desired operation of the latter and displacement of fluid atthe other side of the actuator. The displaced fluid is returned throughport 46, through passage 64 to return chamber 60 of valve 1211 and from4 there through port 84 and the ports 98 and 106 and the return chamberof valve 121' to reservoir 34.

To elfect reverse operation of the actuator associated with valve 12h,member 50 is rotated 180 degrees to a second position wherein itspassages 62 and 64 are in registry with ports 46 and 44, respectively.In this condition fluid ow to and from the actuator is reversed andreverse operation of the latter is effected.

AS FIG. 3 shows, valve 12e which is located above valve 12h is connectedthereto by ports 111 and 113 in the bottom Wall of valve '12e whichregisters with ports 115 and 1116, respectively, in the top wall ofvalve 12h.

Valve 12h may be used in other arrangements than the one shown and, may,therefore, be provided with ports 118 and 120 in its botom side whichcan be closed or plugged `when not in use, as by plugs 122 and 124,respectively.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are dened as follows:

1. In a hydraulic system,

a fluid source,

a lluid return reservoir,

a plurality of actuators,

and a plurality of stackable valves for controlling fluid flow betweensaid source and said actuators and between said actuators and saidreturn reservoir, each valve comprising a valve body and a rotatablecylindrical valve member disposed therein,

said valve body and said valve member cooperating to provide a fluidsupply chamber and a Huid return chamber, said valve member beingprovided with a supply passage therein and with a return passagetherein,

said valve body being provided with a rst actuator port forcommunicating between said actuator and said supply chamber through saidsupply passage when said valve member is in a predetermined position,said valve body being further provided `with a second actuator port forcommunicating between said actuator and said return chamber through saidreturn passage lwhen said valve member is in said predeterminedposition, and said valve body comprising a supply port for communicatingwith said supply chamber and a return port for communicating with saidreturn chamber,

at least one of said plurality of valves having its supply portconnected with said source and its return port connected with saidreservoir,

said one valve having a valve body which is provided with rst and secondconnecting ports which communicate with the supply chamber and thereturn chamber thereof, respectively,

and said rst and second connecting ports of said one valve being incommunication in all positions of said one valve with the supply portand the return port, respectively, of one other valve in the system.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said valve member is providedwith two annular grooves, one of which serves as said uid supply chamberand the other of which serves as said lluid return chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,051,137 8/1936 Galleher137-596.12 2,322,740 6/1943 Vanderzee et al. 137-596.122( 2,331,13310/1943 Nardone l37-596.l2 2,924,240 2/1960 Dolan 137-596.12X 3,133,5595/1964 Tennis 137-596 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner R. J. MILLER,Assistant Examiner

